Switch device for overhead tracks.



H. G. RASSMANN. swn'cn DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD TRACKS APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1913.

Patented July 22, 1913.

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HUGO C. RASSMANN, OF BEAVER DAM, 'VVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO F. RASSMANN MFG. C0,, OF BEAVER DAIVI, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

SWITCH DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD TRACKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20, 1913.

Patented July 22, 1913. Serial No. 768,829.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HUGO C. RAssMANN, of Beaver Dam, in the county of Dodge and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Devices for Overhead Tracks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in switch devices for overhead tracks,--the object of the invention being to provide simple and eflicient means, independent of the meeting ends of the rails, for shifting the pivoted switch rail to alinewith one or another of divergent fixed rails and locking said switch rail in the position to which it may be shifted.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating an overhead switch embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of said switch devices; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the latch mechanism, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation showing the pivotal connection for the switch-rail.

1 represents a triangular frame to be supported from the ceiling by means of suitable rods attached at 2. Hangers 3 depend from the cross member 4: at the wide end of the frame 1 and support fixed divergent rail ends 5 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A fixed rail end 6 is supported (by a suitable hanger 7 secured to the ceiling) near the apex of the triangular frame, and to this fixed rail end, one end of a switch rail 9 is pivotally connected,-said switch rail being adapted to be made to aline with either of the divergent rail'ends 5, by means of devices hereinafter described. In effecting the pivotal connection between the switch rail and the fixed rail 6, the latter may be provided with an arm or extension 10 having a lug 11, in which a hole 12 is formed, and the switch rail 9 may be provided with an arm or extension 13 having a lug 1a to rest upon the lug 11 and provided with a depending pin 15 to pass through the hole in said lug 11.

A segmental bar 16 is mounted in loops or brackets 17 secured to the frame 1 and is movable transversely of said frame. From this bar, a hanger 17 depends and is connected with the switch rail 9 so as to support the same and also to shift it when the bar is moved. For the purpose of sliding the guide bar 16 transversely of tho frame 1 and shifting the switch rail 9 from one divergent rail 5 to another, a lever 18 is provided. This lever is made with two arms 19-2O and is pivotally supported at the juncture of said arms, by the triangular frame 1 at the apex of the latter. The free end of the arm 19 of lever 18 is provided with a notch 21 to receive a tooth 22 projecting from the segmental guide bar 16 centrally between the ends of the latter.

The laterally projecting arm 20 of the lever 18 is supported and guided by a bracket 23 which may be secured to the ceiling and to the free end of said arm 20, cords 247-25 are attached. These cords extend in opposite directions from their connection with the lever and after passing over pulleys 26, (supported in any suitable manner from the ceiling) depend within convenient reach of an operator,-suitable handles 27 being provided at the free ends of said cords to facilitate their manipulation.

It is apparent that by pulling upon one or the other cord 24 or 25, the lever 18 will be operated to slide the segmental guide bar and thus shift the switch rail from one divergent rail to the other.

It is important that the switch rail shall be locked in the position to which it may be shifted and it is desirable that such looking means shall be independent of the switch ends per so. To effect such locking of the switch rail, the devices now to be described are employed.

A curved bar 28 is secured transversely to the frame 1. under the arm 19 of lever 18 and preferably in proximity to the segmental guide bar 16, and is provided with a depending flange 29 having holes 30 1n line with the divergent track ends 5, 5. A spring-actuated latch 31 is mounted on the under side of the arm 19 of lever 18 and is adapted to enter one or the other holes 30 in the flange 29. A cord 32 is attached to the latch 31 and, after passing over a pulley 38 near the pivotal support of the lever 18, is extended laterally and passes over a pulley 34 (suitably supported from the ceiling), the free depending end of said lever 18, is extended laterally and passes over a pulley 3st (suitably supported from the ceiling), the free depending end of said cord being provided with a. handle 35. By pullin upon the cord 32, the latch 31 will be withdrawn from the flange 29 of bar 28, and then by operating one of the cords 24L or 25, the switch rail will be shifted as above ex lained and will become locked in its shifted position by the reengagementof the latch with the flange 29 of bar 30.

Slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limitinoits scope and hence I do not wish to restrict myself to the exact details herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention'whait I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettors-Patent, is

'1. In an overhead switch, the combination with a plurality of rail terminals, anda switch rail pivotally connected with one of said terminals, of aframe having one end coincident with the other rail terminals, a segmental guide bar supported by said frame and connected with the switch rail, a lever pivotally connected with the frame and with said guide bar, means for operating said lever to slide said bar and shift the switch rail, a latch carried by said lever to lock the bar and switch rail, a part on theframe to be engaged by said latch and means for operating the latch.

2. In an overhead switch, the combination with a plurality of rail terminals, a switch rail pivotally connected with one of said rail terminals, of a frame provided at one end with hangers supporting the other rail terminals, a segmental bar supported by the frame and movable transversely of the same, a connection between said bar and the switch rail, a lever pivotally connected with the frame and also connected with said segmental bar, means for operating said lever, a curved bar secured transversely to said frame and having holes spaced apart, a latch carried by said lever and adapted to enter one or the other of said holes, and means for operating said latch.

3. In an overhead switch, the combina tion with a plurality of rail terminals, and a switch-rail pivotally connected at one end with one of said rail terminals, of a frame having one end adjacent to the'other rail, terminals, a segmental guide bar supported by and movable transversely of said frame,

a connection between said bar and the switch rail, a lever pivotally connected with the frame and connected with said segmental bar, means for operating said lever, a curved bar secured to said frame transversely of the latter, sa1d curved bar having a dependingfian'ge provided with-holes spaced apart,

a spring-actuated latch carried by said lever and adapted to engage in one'or the" other of the holes in the dependingjfiange and lock the segmental bar and switch rail in the position to which they may be shifted, and a flexible device connected with said Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,- washington, D. C. 

